Ole Miss won three games in Puerto Rico, one in Jackson, Miss. and one in Southaven, Miss.

Curtis said one reason the Rebels have had success on the neutral floor has to do with balanced crowd support.

"We've played pretty good on neutral courts," Curtis said. "They won't have the advantage and we won't have the advantage in the stands, and we have to take advantage of it."

Name game

When it comes to being on the bubble, Kennedy said the name on the front of a jersey certainly helps.

Two teams in the SEC on the bubble have strong traditions, two-time defending national champion Florida and traditional powerhouse Kentucky.

Past national champions Arizona, Maryland and Villanova are firmly on the bubble, as well as last year's runner up Ohio State.

"It's name recognition, teams they're more familiar with that have had success," Kennedy said. "We have to earn our way into it."

Tip ins

• Sophomore Eniel Polynice's injured left knee is serious enough where Polynice will play in a brace. Polynice said the injury was a "torn or stretched meniscus." Polynice said the knee is sore, but he'd try to play through the pain.

• In 28 first-round games in the SEC Tournament, Ole Miss is 9-19 - going 2-5 in first-round games in Atlanta.

• Freshman Trevor Gaskins, a member of the SEC all-freshman team, has scored just six points in the Rebels' last five games.